A survey of assistive technology in cognitive rehabilitation

Abstract

In 2003, Hart, O'Neil-Pirozzi, and Morita surveyed clinicians on their experiences training clients with acquired brain injury (ABI) to use assistive technology for cognition (ATC). Their clinicians reported limited experience and low confidence with ATC. Clinicians expected common barriers to ATC use would be high cost and low client ability to learn. In the current survey, 88 speech language pathologists (SLPs) provided updated and expanded information about their experiences training individuals with ABI to use ATC. Clinicians reported using mostly portable devices to address the same targets as the Hart group. Clients typically received less than seven hours of instruction, yet most clinicians reported this was adequate. Primary barriers to service and success were clinician inability to instruct in a natural setting and inconsistent device use by clients. The current survey highlights areas of change and areas of current need in ATC services and research.